Bahraini prince accused of torture

A Bahraini prince could face arrest and prosecution for involvement in torture of anti-regime protesters if he travels to the UK.

The case against Prince Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa was launched in the British courts in 2012.

The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) had previously said that the Bahraini prince could not be investigated over allegations of being involved in the torture of Bahraini protesters in 2011.

The CPS decided that the son of the King of Bahrain has immunity as commander of the Royal Guard of Bahrain and cannot be prosecuted.

However, a Bahraini protester, identified as FF, has challenged the court ruling and is to bring a judicial review in an effort to prove that the CPS decision on immunity was “erroneous in law.”

The Bahraini figure says he was beaten and given a jail term after participating in anti-regime protests in the Persian Gulf kingdom in February 2011.

FF’s lawyers have sought the arrest and prosecution of Prince Nasser, who travels regularly to the UK.

Since February 2011, thousands of Bahraini protesters have staged numerous demonstrations in the streets of Bahrain, calling for the Al Khalifa royal family to relinquish power.

Physicians for Human Rights says doctors and nurses have been detained, tortured, or disappeared because they have “evidence of atrocities committed by the authorities, security forces, and riot police” in the crackdown on anti-regime protesters.